Twelve Turning Points of the Second World War

"The author’s greatest virtue [is] his keen and frequently articulated sense that, at any vital moment, things might easily have turned out differently."—World War II Magazine

~World War II Magazine

“Philip Bell provides a sharp depth of writing that conveys the detail required in an engaging and informative manner about a multi-faceted conflict that still grips our attention even after all these years.”—Leslie J M Obre, History Teaching Review

~Leslie J M Obre, History Teaching Review

"Through a sharp focus on a number of key episodes, Philip Bell's lucid and fascinating analysis is able to highlight the uncertainties of the Second World War, and show that its outcome was at many points less predictable than we often presume."—Ian Kershaw

~Ian Kershaw

"Crammed full of appropriate facts from impartial and impeccable sources, Philip Bell's masterful Twelve Turning Points of the Second World War is an important book for all military and political historians, and should be a recommended read for every English-speaking school sixth form."—Patrick Delaforce, author of The Rhine Endeavour and Invasion of the Third Reich

~Patrick Delaforce

"As in all of his books, Professor Bell's Twelve Turning Points manages to combine vast knowledge, erudite argumentation, and smooth writing in equal measure. The result is that rare bird: a scholarly book that should appeal to a broad audience, from professors to the undergraduates they teach, and from experts to buffs. Along the way, he does something I regarded as impossible: restore the credibility of the most abused concept in the military historical canon, the “turning point.” By defining the turning point as an event representing “decisive or important change,” and rejecting the notion of an allegedly magic moment that transformed defeat into victory (or vise versa), Bell has written one of the most sensible books to appear on the war in years. Of course, your list of turning points may diverge from Bell's, but one senses that he wouldn't mind a bit, as long as he has made you think about the topic and a new and interesting way. It is another of the virtues of this very valuable book." - Robert M. Citino, Military History Center, University of North Texas

~Robert Citino

An erudite analysis of the Second World War drawing on a mass of archival material -- Frontline (India)

~A.G. Noorani, Frontline (India)

This is really a collection of essays which asks readers to think again...Even those who would disagree with Prof. Bell's reference to the UK 'bankruptcy' in 1945 would accept that the arguments put forward here are a refreshing adjustment to views too readily accepted -- T.B.

~Contemporary Review